​World Day for Safety and Health at Work : "Revolutionizing Health and Safety: The Role of AI and Digitalization at Work"

World Day for Safety and Health at Work: "Building Safer Futures – Innovation, Action, and Global Commitment."

Every year on April 28th, the international community observes World Day for Safety and Health at Work, a significant initiative established by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2003. This observance serves as a crucial platform to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally, while raising awareness about the importance of creating safe and healthy working environments for all. The day has grown into a major international campaign that brings together governments, employers, workers, and various organizations to address contemporary challenges in occupational safety and health (OSH) .

The selection of April 28th holds particular significance as it also marks the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers, which has been organized worldwide by the trade union movement since 1996. This dual observance creates a powerful moment of reflection on both the progress made in workplace safety and the work that remains to be done . The World Day for Safety and Health at Work forms an integral part of the ILO's Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health, serving as a key advocacy tool to raise the political profile of OSH issues and stimulate action at all levels .

Historical Context and Significance

The roots of World Day for Safety and Health at Work trace back to the fundamental work of the International Labour Organization, which was created in 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I. From its inception, the ILO has been devoted to advancing opportunities for people to obtain decent and productive work under conditions of freedom, equity, security, and human dignity 68. The formal establishment of World Day for Safety and Health at Work in 2003 represented a strategic decision by the ILO to capitalize on its traditional strengths of tripartism (government, employers, and workers) and social dialogue to address workplace safety issues systematically .

The importance of this observance becomes starkly clear when examining global workplace safety statistics. Every day, approximately 6,300 people die as a result of occupational accidents or work-related diseases, amounting to more than 2.3 million deaths annually. Additionally, 317 million accidents occur on the job each year, many resulting in extended absences from work. The human cost of these incidents is immense, and the economic burden of poor occupational safety and health practices is estimated at 4% of global Gross Domestic Product annually . These staggering figures underscore why the ILO considers a safe and healthy working environment to be a fundamental principle and right at work .

The World Day for Safety and Health at Work serves multiple crucial functions in addressing these challenges. First, it provides an annual opportunity to focus international attention on the magnitude of workplace safety issues. Second, it highlights how promoting and creating a safety and health culture can help reduce work-related deaths and injuries. Third, it facilitates the sharing of knowledge and best practices across nations and industries. Finally, it reinforces the shared responsibility of all stakeholders—governments, employers, and workers—in creating safer workplaces .

The 2025 Theme: AI and Digitalization at Work

Each year, the ILO selects a specific theme to guide the World Day for Safety and Health at Work observances, ensuring focused attention on emerging or critical issues in occupational safety. For 2025, the theme is "Revolutionizing health and safety: the role of AI and digitalization at work." This timely theme reflects the rapid technological transformations reshaping workplaces globally and their profound implications for worker safety and health .

The 2025 theme explores how artificial intelligence and digital tools are revolutionizing occupational safety and health. On one hand, these technologies offer tremendous potential to enhance workplace safety. Robots now operate in hazardous environments, handling heavy lifting, managing toxic materials, and working in extreme temperatures—tasks that would pose significant risks to human workers. Digital devices and sensors can detect potential hazards early, preventing accidents before they occur. AI-powered systems can analyze vast amounts of data to identify safety patterns and predict potential risks .

However, the theme also acknowledges the dual nature of these technological advancements. In the absence of adequate OSH measures, digital technologies can introduce new risks, including ergonomic challenges, work intensification, reduced job control, and blurred boundaries between work and personal life. The campaign will shed light on how these new technologies are transforming OSH through various means, including task automation, smart OSH tools, monitoring systems, extended reality applications, and algorithmic management of work .

The digital transformation of work has also led to evolving work arrangements that present new safety considerations. Telework, digital labor platforms, hybrid work models, and other emerging forms of employment require fresh approaches to occupational safety and health. These new work paradigms challenge traditional OSH frameworks that were designed primarily for physical workplaces and predictable work schedules .

To explore these issues comprehensively, the ILO will host a special event on April 28, 2025, bringing together constituents and international experts to examine how AI and digitalization are reshaping OSH systems across sectors and countries. The event will feature opening remarks by Joaquim Pintado Nunes, Branch Chief of the ILO's Occupational Safety and Health and Working Environment Branch, and include panel discussions with experts from various organizations including the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), the International Trade Union Confederation, and national labor authorities .

Global Impact and Regional Challenges

The impact of workplace safety issues varies significantly across regions and economic sectors, with developing nations often bearing a disproportionate burden. The WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR), for example, faces a particularly high burden of work-related mortality, with 36.5 deaths per 100,000 of the working population—significantly higher than global averages. In this region, occupational risks rank as the third-largest environmental risk factor for disease.

Informal workers in developing regions face especially severe challenges due to poor working conditions and limited social protection. These workers, who often operate outside formal regulatory frameworks, are disproportionately vulnerable to economic shocks and lack adequate workplace protections. This vulnerability exacerbates the impact of workplace injuries when they occur, as informal workers typically have limited access to healthcare and compensation systems .

Climate change has emerged as another significant factor affecting occupational health worldwide. Climate-related hazards, particularly extreme weather events, limit work output and duration while posing direct risks to workers' health and safety. The 2024 World Day for Safety and Health at Work theme focused specifically on the impacts of climate change on workplace health and safety, highlighting issues such as heat stress, increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and changing patterns of vector-borne diseases .

The COVID-19 pandemic brought into sharp focus the interconnectedness of workplace safety and public health. It underscored the urgent need to address both physical and mental health issues in the workplace. Mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety have become pervasive in workplaces globally, impacting productivity and performance. When left untreated, these conditions carry an estimated economic cost of US$1 trillion annually. A truly safe and healthy working environment must therefore address psychosocial risks alongside traditional physical hazards .

The Role of Stakeholders

Creating safer and healthier workplaces requires concerted action from all stakeholders in the world of work. Governments bear responsibility for establishing robust legal frameworks and providing the infrastructure—laws, services, and enforcement mechanisms—necessary to ensure worker safety. This includes developing comprehensive national OSH policies and programs, as well as inspection systems to enforce compliance with occupational safety and health legislation.

Employers play a critical role in implementing these frameworks at the organizational level. They are responsible for ensuring that the working environment is safe and healthy, which includes conducting risk assessments, providing appropriate safety equipment and training, and establishing protocols for hazard reporting and incident response. Leading companies recognize that investing in worker safety not only fulfills ethical obligations but also makes good business sense by reducing absenteeism, improving productivity, and enhancing corporate reputation .

Workers themselves have responsibilities to work safely, protect themselves and their colleagues, know their rights, and participate in implementing preventive measures. Empowering workers with knowledge and involving them in safety decision-making processes has proven particularly effective in creating sustainable safety cultures. Frontline workers often have the most direct understanding of operational dangers and can provide valuable insights for improving safety measures .

The tripartite structure of the ILO—bringing together governments, employers, and workers—provides an ideal platform for addressing OSH challenges through social dialogue. This collaborative approach helps ensure that safety measures are practical, equitable, and responsive to the needs of all parties. The World Day for Safety and Health at Work serves as an important moment to strengthen these partnerships and renew commitments to shared goals .

Observance and Activities

World Day for Safety and Health at Work is marked through diverse activities organized at global, national, and workplace levels. The ILO typically hosts a flagship event at its headquarters in Geneva, which in 2025 will focus on the AI and digitalization theme. These events bring together experts and constituents to discuss the year's theme and share experiences from around the world. They also serve as platforms to present global reports on occupational safety and health trends and innovations .

At the national level, many countries organize seminars, workshops, and awareness campaigns to mark the day. These events often involve labor ministries, employer organizations, trade unions, and OSH professionals. Some countries use the occasion to launch new safety initiatives or report on progress in implementing OSH strategies. Media outlets frequently contribute by running special features on workplace safety issues, helping to raise public awareness .

Workplace-level activities are equally important in translating the global observance into concrete actions. Many organizations use the day to conduct special safety training sessions, review their safety policies, recognize employees for outstanding safety performance, or conduct emergency preparedness drills. Some companies organize "safety stand-downs," where work pauses temporarily for safety discussions. Others engage workers in identifying and addressing hazards in their immediate work environments .

The ILO supports these observances by providing promotional materials, including posters, PowerPoint presentations, and social media cards in multiple languages. These resources help stakeholders communicate consistent messages about the importance of workplace safety and the specific theme for the year. The organization also produces research reports and policy guidelines that inform discussions and actions around World Day .

Moving Forward: Challenges and Opportunities

As the world of work continues to evolve, so too must approaches to occupational safety and health. The increasing digitalization of work, exemplified by the 2025 theme, presents both challenges and opportunities for OSH professionals. On one hand, technologies like AI, IoT, and wearable devices offer unprecedented capabilities for hazard detection and prevention. On the other hand, they introduce new risks related to data privacy, work organization, and the blurring of boundaries between work and personal life .

The growth of non-standard forms of employment—including gig work, platform work, and hybrid arrangements—requires rethinking traditional OSH frameworks to ensure they remain effective and inclusive. These workers often fall outside conventional employer-employee relationships, creating gaps in protection that need to be addressed through innovative policy solutions .

Climate change will continue to shape occupational safety concerns, with rising temperatures increasing risks of heat stress and changing weather patterns affecting outdoor work environments. At the same time, the transition to green economies will create new types of jobs with their own unique safety considerations .

Perhaps most importantly, there remains a significant implementation gap between OSH policies on paper and practices on the ground, particularly in small enterprises and informal sectors. Closing this gap requires targeted efforts to build capacity, improve compliance incentives, and foster genuine safety cultures at all levels of organizations .

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 8 on decent work and economic growth, provide a broader framework for advancing workplace safety globally. Target 8.8 specifically aims to "protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers." The World Day for Safety and Health at Work contributes directly to achieving this target by raising awareness, promoting best practices, and mobilizing action .

Conclusion

World Day for Safety and Health at Work serves as both an annual reminder and a call to action regarding the fundamental right of all workers to safe and healthy working conditions. Since its establishment in 2003, it has grown into a globally recognized platform for advancing occupational safety and health through awareness-raising, knowledge sharing, and policy dialogue.

The 2025 focus on AI and digitalization reflects the ILO's commitment to addressing contemporary challenges in the world of work. By examining how new technologies are transforming workplaces—both creating new opportunities and introducing new risks—the observance will help shape responsive and forward-looking OSH strategies.

While significant progress has been made in many countries and sectors, the continuing high toll of work-related accidents and illnesses demonstrates that much work remains. Achieving meaningful and lasting improvements requires sustained commitment from all stakeholders—governments, employers, workers, and their representatives—backed by adequate resources and genuine political will.

As we observe World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28, 2025, we honor those who have suffered work-related injuries or illnesses while renewing our collective determination to prevent such tragedies in the future. Through continued collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility, we can work toward the ultimate goal of zero work-related deaths and injuries—a vision that is both ambitious and essential for building a more just and sustainable world of work.

Photo from iStock

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